Coetzee, Hendricks guide Proteas to victory against India

Reeza Hendricks’ attacking intent with the bat together with three wickets important by Gerald Coetzee helped the Proteas edge out India by five wickets on the DLS Method in the second T20 International at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

The right-hander struck eight boundaries and a six in his 49 runs off 27 balls and was supported well by captain Aiden Markram (30) as the hosts hunted down a revised 152-run target in 15 overs with seven balls to spare.

In the first innings, it was Coetzee’s three wickets that helped restrict the visitors to 180 for seven after the home side won the toss and elected to bowl first under the overcast skies in the Eastern Cape.

Marco Jansen and Lizaad Williams landed two early blows by dismissing India’s openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill respectively – both without troubling the scorers – before the middle order steadied the Indian innings.

Tilak Varma (29), captain Suryakumar Yadav (56) and Rinku Singh (68) all made key runs to get their side back on track.

PROTEAS TAKE THE ADVANTAGE 🇿🇦

A rampant start to the chase from Reeza Hendricks(49) & Matthew Breetzke(16) steered the Proteas to victory 🔥🏏

What a blockbuster as SA go 1-0 up in the series 🍿#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/oYSL3YsZ5r

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 12, 2023

Player of the Match Tabraiz Shamsi (1/18) and Coetzee did manage to strike, before Ravindra Jadeja  added 19 late runs as the tourists reached 180 for seven, when rain curtailed their innings after 19.3 overs.

After the DLS adjustment, South Africa’s top three came out firing to put India under the pump. They were 96 for one at one stage in the eighth over, before some jitters saw the departures of the skipper and Hendricks together with Heinrich Klaasen.

David Miller powered on with 17 off 12 balls, with Tristan Stubbs and Andile Phehlukwayo then completing the job to put SA 1-0 up with one to play in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Match one of the series was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain in Durban on Sunday.